City MP welcomes further aid match to the DEC’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal, as winter weather adds to misery in Gaza

The UK Government has announced it is matching donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal up to a further £3 million, to help DEC charities support vulnerable families in the Middle East this winter. 

Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central and Chair of the Aid Match APPG, called for aid match to be used to raise funds for the rebuilding of Gaza in the House of Commons https://www.facebook.com/reel/3711894655613058 and in The Independent last month Yes, we must invest in defence – but not at the expense of our soft power | The Independent.

Responding to the announcement, Emily Darlington MP said:

“The devastation in Gaza is a humanitarian disaster. Now that aid is entering, it is time for the UK public and UK government to work together to bring medical services, food and shelter to the families in Gaza.”

“Many people in the UK care about the people in Gaza, and by matching £ for £, we can help more people more quickly, despite the cuts to development aid. This is why I have been calling for this publicly and working with government Ministers privately to have Aid Match DEC appeal.”

In Gaza, where the majority of funds from the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are being spent, recent heavy rain has caused flooding that has inundated tents and destroyed people’s belongings. A dire shortage of shelter and essential items means children are facing cold nighttime temperatures without warm clothes or blankets. 

The DEC’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal has raised more than £55 million since its launch in October 2024, reaching people impacted by conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria with lifesaving aid.  The UK Government previously matched £10 million of donations when the appeal launched, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme.

Since October’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza, DEC charities and their local partners have been able to scale up their work thanks to generous UK donations to the appeal. Although goods are available again in local markets and malnutrition rates are finally decreasing, the needs in Gaza remain huge. Over 80% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and families are spending their third winter in makeshift shelters having been displaced multiple times. The harsh weather means living conditions are deteriorating rapidly and the risk of diseases is spreading. 

Increased access for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza at scale is still desperately needed, but despite the challenges, DEC charities are working around the clock to deliver cash, medical care, food, clean water, essential supplies and so much more.